Today’s Top Pick is a 1986 Mooney M20K 252TSE.

Over decades of production, Mooney’s M20 series went through numerous changes as the aircraft evolved to meet customer demands. Even the earliest models, though, were known for getting high performance from relatively low power.

When some of the first M20s hit the market, they used 150 hp engines similar to those in Cessna 172s, but their sports car-like performance felt nothing like that of a trainer. The M20 gradually gained speed using more powerful engines but always seemed to accomplish a lot with a little.

The M20K model for sale here marked a significant advance in performance with engine output climbing above 200 hp and turbocharging that enabled the aircraft to make the most of its clean aerodynamics by flying at higher altitudes. When you fly a Mooney, you can feel the difference a truly efficient design makes, especially during the approach and landing phases of flight.

Mooneys slip through the air so readily that slowing one down for landing can be challenging. While experienced Mooney pilots generally do not have trouble controlling their speed, this M20K and many like it have speedbrakes that deploy from the wings, just in case. 

This 1986 Mooney M20K has 1,660 hours on the airframe and its 225 hp Lycoming TSIO-360 engine. Its Hartzell three-blade aluminum propeller was installed in 2003 and has been in service for 500 hours. The aircraft carries 72 gallons of fuel and has a range of 890 nm, maximum takeoff weight of 2,900 pounds and useful load of 803 pounds. It is equipped with speedbrakes and an oxygen system.

The panel includes a Garmin GMA 35c audio panel, GTN 750 GPS/Nav/Comm, G500 flight display, G5, GTX 345R transponder, and AutoCruze 230 autopilot.

Pilots looking for a fast, efficient traveling airplane that can operate comfortably at high altitudes should consider this 1986 Mooney M20K 252TSE, which is available for $280,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
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• AVweb: Buying a Used Aircraft: Mooney M20J
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Mooney 201/M20J

The post This 1986 Mooney M20K 252TSE Is an Efficient, High-Altitude ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 1961 Mooney M20B.

Albert Mooney designed several aircraft for a variety of missions during his career. A number of them were well-known, including the Culver Cadet and Mooney M-18 Mite. The M20 series, which debuted in the 1950s, was by far the most popular. Based somewhat on the single seat Mite, the M20 was larger, had four seats and engines that increased in power and displacement over time. For most of its life, the M20 was known for providing a lot of performance in an efficient, economical package.

While the M20’s exterior is trim and compact, I would not call its cabin “cramped” or “tight.” Inside, the airplane feels like a lot of thought went into allocating the available space. Mooney owners I know talk mostly about their airplanes’ smooth, nimble handling, and how they perform like big-bore models while sipping fuel more like a Cessna 172.

This 1961 Mooney M20B has 3,215 hours on the airframe, 20 hours since overhaul on its 180 hp Lycoming O-360-A1D engine and 20 hours since new on its Hartzell Scimitar propeller.

The panel includes dual Uavionix AV-30Cs with a magnetometer and OAT, uAvionix TailBeaconX transponder with ADS-B out, Bendix King KY97A com, Terra TN200/TX720 nav/com, Terra Tri NavC, Apollo GX55 GPS, S-Tec 30 autopilot, and JPI EDM 700 engine monitor.

Pilots looking for style and speed in an efficient, economical package should take a look at this 1961 Mooney M20B, which is available for $67,000 on AircraftForSale.

You can arrange financing of the aircraft through FLYING Finance. For more information, email info@flyingfinance.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Air Compare: Grumman AA-5 vs. Mooney M20 Series
• FLYING Magazine: The Mooney M20U Ovation Ultra is a Product of Big Investment
• Plane & Pilot: The Marvelous Mooney M20
• Plane & Pilot: 2017 Mooney M20 Ovation
• The Aviation Consumer: Used Aircraft Guide: Mooney 231/252

The post This 1961 Mooney M20B Is a Fast, Fuel-Sipping ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Today’s Top Pick is a 2000 Mooney M20M Bravo 

For years Mooney owners touted their compact, aerodynamically clean aircraft for maintaining a fast pace with small, fuel-sipping engines. They were a textbook case of doing more with less. Indeed, they often burned half as much fuel as competing four-seat retractables with larger engines and more power.

By the time this 2000 Bravo rolled off the assembly line, things had changed at the company and M20s were getting brawny. Packing a 6-cylinder, turbocharged Lycoming 540 engine, this airplane can climb quickly to 25,000 feet and cruise at speeds above 200 ktas.

With paint and interior in great condition and just 1,253 hours on the airframe, this Bravo has a long life ahead and is full of possibilities for pilots who want to cover long distances quickly. Other features include dual batteries and alternators, a factory oxygen system, leather-covered yokes, air vents and reading lights at all four seats along with cup holders.

The IFR panel includes a Garmin GTN 650, dual Garmin GI 275 flight instruments, GTX 345 transponder with ADS-B in and out, King KFC 150 autopilot, and more.

If you are looking for a family hauler that will handily outrun most of the competition, consider looking into this Mooney M20M Bravo, which is available for $259,000 on AircraftForSale. You can arrange financing of the airplane through FLYING Financial Group. For more information, email info@flyingfinancial.com.

• FLYING Magazine: Mooney M20, A Look Back in Photos
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• The Aviation Consumer: Mooney M20M/TLS/Bravo Series

The post Today’s Top AircraftForSale Pick: 2000 Mooney M20M Bravo appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The supplemental type certificate (STC) for the Hartzell prop was approved this week. Airplanes covered by the STC are powered by TIO-540-AF1A and TIO-540-AF1B turbocharged Lycoming Sabre engines.

“Installing Hartzell’s scimitar-style prop covered by this STC delivers 8 to 10 percent improvement in climb performance, a 2 to 3 knot increase in cruise,” said Hartzell president JJ Frigge, adding that the propeller has the Hartzell Top Prop 2,400-hour, 6-year time between overhaul, and warranty until first overhaul.

According to Hartzell, through the years, about 10,000 Mooney airplanes have been equipped with Hartzell props. One of the launch platforms of the first Hartzell two-blade compact aluminum propellers in the early 1960s was the Mooney M20C. Through the decades, the M20 airframe was improved with the addition of metal wings, generations of avionics advances, fuselage stretches, increased gross weights, and more horsepower.

A Hartzell company spokesperson notes, “There have been regular inquiries on a prop for these aircraft in the years since their manufacture (1989 to 2006) to improve on the original propeller’s performance and take advantage of Hartzell performance. When we realized we had a winner and had the time and manpower to run the STC program, we gave it the green light. 

“With only a couple of exceptions, for most of the M20 series manufacturing run, Hartzell has been the propeller of choice. This fixes the gap in coverage with arguably the best high-altitude blade ever installed on a six cylinder turbo-charged M20.”

The Hartzell Propeller Top Prop kit, HC-I3YF-1RF/F7498-1, is available for $15,839. The kit includes a propeller, an all-composite spinner assembly, and STC documentation. 

Hartzell Propeller and sister companies, Hartzell Engine Technologies LLC and AWI-AMI, form the general aviation business unit of Tailwind Technologies Inc.

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